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Why "Nobody" Lives On Australia's Big Island State: Tasmania
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Apr 2, 2025
Listen to the companion podcast episode here: https://linktr.ee/geographyiseverything Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geographybygeoff/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geographybygeoff Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/geography-is-everything Linktree for everything: https://linktr.ee/geographybygeoff Tasmania is a fascinating, if not often overlooked, state of Australia. But while it's small compared to Australia itself, the island is actually quite large! All told, Tasmania is roughly the same size as the island country of Sri Lanka or the U.S. state of Florida. Despite this size, however, it remains Australia's least populated state and is often forgotten about, even for many Australians. So why don't more people live in Tasmania, Australia's big, empty island? Tasman National Park photo by JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7283679 Stock footage is acquired from www.storyblocks.com. Animation support provided by DH Designs (needahittman.com)
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Australia is a huge country by size with a pretty small population overall
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And because Australia is overwhelmingly dominant in the region, it's often forgotten that it also owns the 26th largest island in the world, Tasmania
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an island that is almost the exact same size as Sri Lanka. But unlike Sri Lanka, which is home to over 20 million people
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Tasmania only has about 570,000 people, or 2% of Australia's total population
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So why don't more people live on Australia's big empty island? We're heading down under for today's episode
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But while it might be easy to look at the general population distribution of Australia at large
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and that might become a future episode someday, I became fascinated with Tasmania and why more people don't live there specifically
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Given Australia's increasingly severe wildfires and warming temperatures overall, it's quite surprising that more people don't opt for Tasmania's relatively cooler temperatures
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But of course, as usual, there's a geographic reason for this. But first, because today's video is all about Australia
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Hunter and I finally had to get to our episode all about the insane geography of invasive species
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Australia in particular has suffered greatly at the hands of critters that were simply never supposed to be there
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You can listen to the podcast episode by clicking this link or by checking out the description below
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Australia is known mostly as an Anglosphere country due to its colonization by the British
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Empire in the late 1700s, but people have existed in Australia for far longer
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The Aboriginal peoples of Australia have what is considered to be the world's oldest
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continuous culture, with evidence suggesting their presence in the region for at least
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65,000 years. These indigenous communities thrived across the diverse landscapes of Australia, from
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the coastal regions to the arid interior, developing rich cultures, languages, and deep
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connections to the land. But as we see around the world during this time, colonization would change
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their lives completely. The first major change to Australia's landscape came with the arrival of
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European settlers. In 1788, the British established a penal colony in what would become the state of
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New South Wales, marking the beginning of a new era. The colonization brought profound changes
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including the introduction of new invasive animals and plants, the spread of diseases to which indigenous populations had no immunity
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and the start of a long, painful history of displacement and conflict between the British Empire and the Aboriginals
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Much in the same way Africa, North America, and South America were, Australia's development was marked by the expansion of European settlements
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the discovery of gold, and development of agricultural industries with which goods could then be shipped back to England
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The gold rush of the 1850s in particular brought a surge in population and wealth
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transforming the social and economic landscape. In 1901, Australia officially federated, uniting the colonies into a single commonwealth
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But while Australia became a mostly independent federated country in 1901, making its own laws and governing itself it would actually take until 1986 for Australia to truly break free from the United Kingdom This would formally cede any and all control the United Kingdom had over the entirety of Australia
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which included the island of Tasmania. In a weird way, the history of Tasmania, formerly known as Van Diemen's Land
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mirrors and magnifies the broader Australian narrative. Initially used as a penal colony in the early 1800s
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Tasmania saw an intense conflict between the European settlers and the aboriginal populations of the island. The Black War between 1824 and 1831, a tragic and
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violent period, led to the near-complete destruction of Tasmania's indigenous population. After the war, Tasmania developed into an agricultural and mining center. The discovery
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of tin and copper led to economic growth, while the island's natural beauty and unique wildlife
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began attracting tourists. In the 1900s, Tasmania's economy diversified into sectors like manufacturing
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and services with a growing emphasis on environmental conservation given its vast quantities of
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temperate rainforests. Tasmania is a microcosm of Australia. Everything that happened on the
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mainland happened in Tasmania as well. But one thing that is very different is the geography
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attached to this stunning island. But before we explore Tasmania's physical geography
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if you're enjoying this video, hit that subscribe button. More fun geography videos are just a single click away
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Tasmania, Australia's smallest state, is an island of unique physical geography, distinct in many ways from the mainland's landscape
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Situated about 200 miles south of the Australian mainland and separated by the Bass Strait
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Tasmania is well known for its rugged beauty, extensive wilderness areas, and diverse ecosystems
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And it must be pointed out that, despite being Australia's smallest state
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the island itself is still quite large. All told, Tasmania is the 26th largest island in the world
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nearly the same size as Sri Lanka, and larger than the US state of Florida
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both of which have many millions more people than Tasmania. The island's terrain is predominantly mountainous
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a stark contrast to much of mainland Australia's flatter landscape overall. The central and western parts of Tasmania are dominated by the central highlands
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and the rugged west coast range. This mountainous terrain is a part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
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known for its ancient temperate rainforest and alpine areas. The highest peak is Mount Osa, reaching 5,305 feet
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That said, Mount Osa is not Australia's tallest mountain. Rather, Mount Kosiosko in New South Wales is, reaching 7,310 feet
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still quite small in terms of global mountain peak height. Due to its mountainous terrain, most of Tasmania's population is located near the coast
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But even the island's coastline is markedly different from much of mainland Australia
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While the mainland boasts long, sandy beaches and large open bays, Tasmania's coast is characterized
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by steep cliffs, secluded coves, and small, often rugged, beaches. This is especially evident in the famous Tasman Peninsula, home to the dramatic sea cliffs
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of Tasman National Park The climate of Tasmania is another point of distinction Unlike the mainland predominantly arid and semi climates Tasmania experiences a temperate maritime climate This results in cooler temperatures higher rainfall
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and a far greener landscape compared to much of Australia. The west coast of Tasmania is particularly noted for its high rainfall
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fostering lush rainforests, while the east coast is relatively drier and sunnier
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home to the island's agricultural regions. Finally, in terms of ecology, Tasmania is renowned for its unique flora and fauna
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The island's isolation from the mainland has allowed for the evolution of distinctive species
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such as the famous Tasmanian devil. The cool-temperate rainforests are home to unique tree species like the Huan Pine
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some of which are among the oldest living trees in the world. Despite the greenery, cooler climates, and lush vegetation, however
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Tasmania exists as something of an afterthought in terms of Australian migration
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very few Australians have decided to make Tasmania their home. Tasmania, despite its natural beauty and unique environment
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has a significantly lower population compared to mainland Australia. In fact, the single city of Melbourne, located just 200 miles north of the island
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has a population nearly nine times the size of the entirety of the state of Tasmania
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which begs the question, if Tasmania is such a lush paradise, why don't more people live there
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As with population migration around the world, economic opportunities play a crucial role
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in determining where people choose to live. In this way, Tasmania and Australia
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are not all that different from say the United States or Canada. Cities like Melbourne and Sydney
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are economic powerhouses of Australia, offering a wide range of job opportunities
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Tasmania on the other hand, has a more limited economic base. Historically reliant on resource intensive industries
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like mining and agriculture, Tasmania has yet to experience the same level of industrial or technological development
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as mainland cities. This limitation has influenced migration patterns, with many seeking employment opportunities gravitating towards the mainland
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Secondly, the climate and geographic isolation of Tasmania is a huge deterrent for attracting people
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Tasmania's cooler, wetter climate contrasts sharply with the warmer, sunnier conditions found in much of mainland Australia
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While this kind of climate can be appealing to some, especially during an age of a warming earth overall
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This kind of weather has historically been far less attractive to those who have the option to
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live somewhere warmer. And being an island separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait
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Tasmania is more isolated, affecting the ease of travel and transport. And while the island is only
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200 miles south of Melbourne, Tasmania's largest city, Hobart, is on the far southern side of the
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island, making the largest population center even more isolated than the island itself
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This isolation can be a significant consideration for individuals and businesses alike
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Finally, education and infrastructure also play a part. Major cities like Melbourne and Sydney
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are home to some of Australia's top universities and cultural institutions, drawing students and academics from around the world. Tasmania's educational offerings
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while growing are not as extensive And in terms of infrastructure while Tasmania has seen significant improvements it still lags behind the larger cities in areas like transportation and healthcare facilities All of these things play their role in the crucial decision for where people decide to live Today the largest metropolitan regions in Australia
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are led by Sydney with 5.3 million people, Melbourne with 5 million, and Brisbane with 2.6 million
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Even Perth, often considered to be the most isolated major city in the world
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is home to 2.2 million Australians, all of which are far larger than Tasmania's largest
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city Hobart, which has just 253,000 people. But while everything in this segment contributes
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reasons to why so few people live in Tasmania, certainly one of the big reasons is its physical
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geographic location in one of the windiest regions of the world. The Roaring Forties are a notable feature of the Earth's atmospheric circulation
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characterized by strong westerly winds found in the southern hemisphere, roughly between the latitudes of 40 and 50 degrees south
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These winds are especially significant for Tasmania, profoundly influencing its climate, environment, and even lifestyle
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The Roaring Forties are created by the temperature contrast between the equator and the poles
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and are intensified by Earth's rotation. The absence of significant landmasses at these latitudes in the southern hemisphere
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allows these winds to travel across the ocean with little interruption, gaining both speed and moisture
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As a result, Tasmania, situated at the edge of these latitudes, experiences the full force of these winds
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In terms of climate, the Roaring Forties brings cool, moist air to Tasmania
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contributing to its temperate maritime climate. This results in relatively consistent rainfall throughout the year
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particularly on the western side of the island, where the winds first make landfall
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The high levels of precipitation support the island's lush rainforests and have a significant impact on agricultural practices
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favoring crops and livestock suited to cooler, wetter conditions. The strength and consistency of the Roaring Forties have also shaped Tasmania's landscape
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The western coast, facing the brunt of these winds, is characterized by rugged, dramatic scenery with steep cliffs and large waves
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This has not only created a unique natural environment, but also poses challenges to navigation and settlement along the coast
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But it's not all bad. Due to its strong winds, the Roaring Forties have been harnessed for renewable energy in Tasmania
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The state has an ideal location for wind farms, and these winds play a crucial role in Tasmania's
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efforts to produce sustainable energy. In fact, as of early 2023, Tasmania became the first Australian state to become 100% powered
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by renewable energy. This unique geographic benefit makes Tasmania uniquely suited towards a future with green
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energy and could prove to be a population driver in the years to come
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Tasmania is often ignored on the world stage and even in Australia proper
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But the small island state is quite unique and offers a climate that, in a warming world
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is quite enticing. But unless something dramatic happens on the mainland, Tasmania will likely continue to
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be Australia's smallest state for a long time. I hope you enjoyed learning more about Australia and Tasmania
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If you did, please subscribe to my channel. If you want to learn more about the geography of invasive species, click here
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And if you want to watch more of my videos, click here. Thanks for watching. See you next time
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